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| Bertram Yachts - Bertram 630 Convertible |
Bertram Yachts - The 630 was conceived by Norberto Ferretti, the driving force behind the Ferretti Group as well as its chairman and president, who acquired Bertram in 1998. His directive to the Bertram design team was to take the 60, a seasoned blue water battle wagon, and build a larger, faster tournament boat, a boat that, together with the other Bertram convertibles, would create an impressive sportfishing lineup and make the builder even more of a force to be reckoned with on the tourney circuit.
Ferretti wanted outstanding performance, horizon-chasing range, and top-drawer accommodations, but first he had his team look at why the 60 was such an excellent sea boat. “We designed this boat to possess exceptional sea keeping capabilities, as supplied by [the 60’s] long, constant-deadrise running surface, sharp entry, and deep forefoot,” said Mullian. He added that her generous volume forward helps make the 63 handle well in all sea conditions: head, following, and quartering. “By using all that buoyancy forward, the bow pops up and keeps the boat from falling off to either side.”
Ferretti also wanted speed, and as reducing drag is one of the most important factors in getting something to go faster, the designers gave the 630’s running bottom a 14.5-degree deadrise aft as compared to the 17.5 degrees found on the 60. In addition she has a pair of shallow, seven-foot-long prop pockets that lower draft and flatten out the shaft angle, reducing appendage drag. She also features the same sharp, deep-V entry; big, wide chines; and keel as the 60.
Ferretti also had the Bertram team look at improving construction. The bottom is still solid below the waterline, with Klegecell-cored hull sides, deck, and superstructure. But instead of a conventional stringer system, which is molded, then pumped full of foam and secondarily bonded to the hull, Bertram uses a giant casting sculpted out of high-density, 14-pound foam blocks that are encapsulated and laminated to the hull using longitudinals measuring about eight inches wide. In addition, the thwart members that continue up the hull sides to within ten inches of the sheerline are spaced closer together than on the 60, leaving fewer unsupported areas.
The same kind of thought that went into increasing speed and strength was also given to interior comfort. The 630 is offered with a standard three- or optional four-stateroom layout. To provide more room, Bertram designers increased the beam above the waterline at about amidships; traditionally Bertrams have beams that are continuous from amidships to the transom. “On the 630 we kind of ‘pooched’ it out at the center to give the boat a little more room, gunwale to gunwale, in the center of the boat,” Mullian explained.
That’s why the roominess was so noticeable in all three quarters aboard my 630, whether I was in the forepeak, amidships master, or starboard twin-berth quarters. I also noted lots of stowage spaces. There were two full-length cedar closets, two cabinets, and a pair of drawers in the forepeak’s centerline queen berth. I found a three-drawer, two cabinet credenza along with a pair of cedar closets, two night tables, and a free-standing cabinet for the entertainment center in the master. And the twin-berth quarters had a full-size closet and ample drawer space.
There are other places aboard the 630 where roominess is evident. One is the bridge, where the expansive helm offers the skipper a vast array of electronics that disappear into the console at the push of a button. Forward of the helm there’s also a seating area for about eight, with stowage below.
Another place is in the Awlgripped engine room, which is accessed via a door in the forward part of the cockpit. I found six feet of headroom there, with acres of room around and between the mains to do all the necessary maintenance work without fear of any knuckle-busting. The saloon, galley, and dinette are also spacious and feature, respectively, comfortable seating areas, large Corian countertops, and all the latest appliances, as well as four large above-counter cabinets, four drawer-style Sub-Zero refrigerator/freezer units, and a dining area that seats six.
So, did the 630 and I manage to catch anything? Well, about an hour into it, we had our first knockdown. As Brown was re-baiting the port line, he and I looked up and saw one of the other rod tips bend. “Well Ken, are you going to take that fish or not?” Before I knew it, he and Lambert had cleared all the other rods and this fish and I were, well, connected.
Twenty minutes later, after several jumps and three runs that stripped off as much line as I had reeled in, Mullian put the boat in reverse and maneuvered her beautifully as I finally brought the fish to starboard. “Fifty-pound sail, at least,” said Brown. “Okay?” he asked as he held the leader. “Do it,” I answered, and with that he clipped the leader and the fish slipped back down into the water and, with a flick of its tail, was gone.
We didn’t see any more fish that afternoon, but that didn’t matter to me. Not only did I have a nice sail under my belt, but I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the Bertram 630. Combining superior engineering with luxurious accommodations, the Bertram design team has made Norberto Ferretti’s mandates a reality, resulting in a boat that’ll be just as comfortable island-hopping as she will be fishing the canyons.
Ferretti wanted outstanding performance, horizon-chasing range, and top-drawer accommodations, but first he had his team look at why the 60 was such an excellent sea boat. “We designed this boat to possess exceptional sea keeping capabilities, as supplied by [the 60’s] long, constant-deadrise running surface, sharp entry, and deep forefoot,” said Mullian. He added that her generous volume forward helps make the 63 handle well in all sea conditions: head, following, and quartering. “By using all that buoyancy forward, the bow pops up and keeps the boat from falling off to either side.”
Ferretti also wanted speed, and as reducing drag is one of the most important factors in getting something to go faster, the designers gave the 630’s running bottom a 14.5-degree deadrise aft as compared to the 17.5 degrees found on the 60. In addition she has a pair of shallow, seven-foot-long prop pockets that lower draft and flatten out the shaft angle, reducing appendage drag. She also features the same sharp, deep-V entry; big, wide chines; and keel as the 60.
Ferretti also had the Bertram team look at improving construction. The bottom is still solid below the waterline, with Klegecell-cored hull sides, deck, and superstructure. But instead of a conventional stringer system, which is molded, then pumped full of foam and secondarily bonded to the hull, Bertram uses a giant casting sculpted out of high-density, 14-pound foam blocks that are encapsulated and laminated to the hull using longitudinals measuring about eight inches wide. In addition, the thwart members that continue up the hull sides to within ten inches of the sheerline are spaced closer together than on the 60, leaving fewer unsupported areas.
The same kind of thought that went into increasing speed and strength was also given to interior comfort. The 630 is offered with a standard three- or optional four-stateroom layout. To provide more room, Bertram designers increased the beam above the waterline at about amidships; traditionally Bertrams have beams that are continuous from amidships to the transom. “On the 630 we kind of ‘pooched’ it out at the center to give the boat a little more room, gunwale to gunwale, in the center of the boat,” Mullian explained.
That’s why the roominess was so noticeable in all three quarters aboard my 630, whether I was in the forepeak, amidships master, or starboard twin-berth quarters. I also noted lots of stowage spaces. There were two full-length cedar closets, two cabinets, and a pair of drawers in the forepeak’s centerline queen berth. I found a three-drawer, two cabinet credenza along with a pair of cedar closets, two night tables, and a free-standing cabinet for the entertainment center in the master. And the twin-berth quarters had a full-size closet and ample drawer space.
There are other places aboard the 630 where roominess is evident. One is the bridge, where the expansive helm offers the skipper a vast array of electronics that disappear into the console at the push of a button. Forward of the helm there’s also a seating area for about eight, with stowage below.
Another place is in the Awlgripped engine room, which is accessed via a door in the forward part of the cockpit. I found six feet of headroom there, with acres of room around and between the mains to do all the necessary maintenance work without fear of any knuckle-busting. The saloon, galley, and dinette are also spacious and feature, respectively, comfortable seating areas, large Corian countertops, and all the latest appliances, as well as four large above-counter cabinets, four drawer-style Sub-Zero refrigerator/freezer units, and a dining area that seats six.
So, did the 630 and I manage to catch anything? Well, about an hour into it, we had our first knockdown. As Brown was re-baiting the port line, he and I looked up and saw one of the other rod tips bend. “Well Ken, are you going to take that fish or not?” Before I knew it, he and Lambert had cleared all the other rods and this fish and I were, well, connected.
Twenty minutes later, after several jumps and three runs that stripped off as much line as I had reeled in, Mullian put the boat in reverse and maneuvered her beautifully as I finally brought the fish to starboard. “Fifty-pound sail, at least,” said Brown. “Okay?” he asked as he held the leader. “Do it,” I answered, and with that he clipped the leader and the fish slipped back down into the water and, with a flick of its tail, was gone.
We didn’t see any more fish that afternoon, but that didn’t matter to me. Not only did I have a nice sail under my belt, but I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the Bertram 630. Combining superior engineering with luxurious accommodations, the Bertram design team has made Norberto Ferretti’s mandates a reality, resulting in a boat that’ll be just as comfortable island-hopping as she will be fishing the canyons.
Source: Ken Kreisler, Power & Motoryacht Magazine
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